The map below displays the states where general rate cases are under consideration across the U.S. as of June 30, 2016. Scroll over an individual state to reveal which investor-owned utility (or utilities) are currently participating in a rate case in that state.
During a rate case, regulators review and ultimately decide how much (if any) additional revenue a utility may raise through its rates, and how the utility’s existing rate structure and tariffs may be revised.
Through the rate-case process, dozens of U.S. utilities have proposed changes that would alter the economics of customer-sited distributed generation (DG), as well as energy efficiency and energy conservation. Such proposals include:
- Raising the monthly fixed charge for certain types of customers (often by more than 25 percent), while also reducing volumetric (i.e., per kilowatt-hour) charges
- Imposing a demand charge and/or other fees on DG customers, including PV customers
- Creating a separate customer class for DG customers
- Reducing the value of -- or eliminating -- net metering
Twenty-one utilities filed rate cases in Q2 2016. Of those utilities, 17 proposed raising their fixed charge for residential customers (Figure 1). Notably, seven utilities proposed raising their residential fixed charge by 50 percent or more, with three utilities -- APS (Arizona), West Penn Power (Pennsylvania) and Alliant Energy (Wisconsin) -- proposing to more than double their residential fixed charge.
FIGURE 1: Proposed Residential Fixed-Charge Increases Rate Cases Filed in Q2 2016
Source: EQ Research
Of the five rate cases decided in Q2 2016, state regulators did not approve any increase in fixed charges for residential customers in three cases, thereby maintaining the existing charges for those utilities. Regulators in South Dakota allowed MDU to impose a 25 percent increase, while Maryland regulators allowed BG&E a 5.3 percent increase.
FIGURE 2: Existing vs. Proposed vs. Approved Residential Fixed-Charge Increases Rate Cases Decided in Q2 2016
Source: EQ Research
FIGURE 3: Existing vs. Proposed vs. Approved Residential Fixed-Charge Increases, Q2 2016
Source: EQ Research
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In partnership with EQ Research, GTM Squared brings you a series of visualizations that map, graph and chart issues important to the clean energy industry across the U.S. These visualizations will be updated quarterly and serve as an up-to-date resource for Squared members.
